Hybrid Notebook/Tablet, Android-Style From Lenovo

Lenovo's 10-inch IdeaTab S2110 Android tablet is loaded with features and modestly priced. It competes favorably with Samsung's Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, providing a 50% faster CPU. The optional battery-boosting keyboard/dock morphs it into a laptop-like device with multiple use-cases.

Move over, Samsung. Although Samsung's thin and light Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablets have dominated the 10-inch Android tablet market for the past 18 months, there's a new kid on the block: Lenovo's IdeaTab S2110. How does it stack up? Is it good enough for work?

The IdeaTab S2110 optionally morphs into a laptop-like device.(Click images to enlarge.)

Physically, the IdeaTab S2110 is one of the thinnest and lightest 10-inch tablets available today. It's also one of the most pleasant to hold, thanks to its textured non-slippery back. Also welcome are the use of industry-standard micro-USB and micro-HDMI connectors for its USB/power and video interfaces.

The IdeaTab S2110 is one of the thinnest 10-inch tablets.

(Click image to enlarge.)

The company plans to offer 3G versions of the S2110, but is not ready to announce which wireless carriers will offer it. The higher-priced 3G models will also add AGPS to the tablet's feature set.

IdeaTab S2110 specs vs. competition

To find out how the IdeaTab S2110 stacks up against Samsung's Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 and Galaxy Note 10.1 tablets, and Google's upcoming Nexus 10 device, we tabulated all the key specs.

Lenovo IdeaTab S2110

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1

Google Nexus 10

Processor

1.5-GHz dual core

1.0-GHz dual core

1.4-GHz quad core

1.7-GHz dual core

RAM

1 GB

1 GB

2 GB

2 GB

Internal flash

16 GB

16 GB

16/32/64 GB

16 GB

MicroSD expansion

No

Yes

Yes

No

OS

Android 4.0

Android 4.0

Android 4.0

Android 4.2

Apps market

Google

Google

Google

Google

Screen (pixels)

1280 x 800

1280 x 800

1280 x 800

2560 x 1600

Front camera

1.3 MP

0.3 MP

1.9 MP

1.9 MP

Rear camera

5 MP

3 MP

5 MP

5 MP

Video output

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Wi-Fi

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Bluetooth

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

GPS

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Battery

6320 mAh

7000 mAh

7000 mAh

9000 mAh

Size (inches)

10.2 x 7.0 x 0.34

10.1 x 6.9 x 0.4

10.3 x 7.1 x 0.4

10.4 x 7.0 x 0.4

Weight (ounces)

20

21

20

21

Price*

$340 (16 GB) $419 (32 GB)

$350 (16 GB)

$500 (16 GB) $550 (32 GB)

$400 (16 GB) $500 (32 GB)

*Lenovo and Samsung prices from Amazon.com, Nov. 2, 2012

The IdeaTab S2110 and Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 run neck and neck in features. Here's a quick assessment of their relative strengths.

IdeaTab S2110 advantages:

50% faster processor.

Higher-resolution front and rear cameras.

Industry-standard USB/power and video connections.

Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 advantages:

Hardware GPS.

MicroSD flash expansion slot.

10% beefier battery.

Clearly, both of these modestly priced 10-inch tablets have a lot to offer. Let's take a deeper look at what the S2110 can do.

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